The sage Agastya's beloved hymn to Saraswati — from “Yā kundendu,” white as jasmine and the moon, through salutations to the goddess in all her forms — chanted by students before they begin their learning.
Verse 1 — ಯಾ ಕುಂದೇಂದುತುಷಾರಹಾರಧವಲಾ ಯಾ ಶುಭ್ರವಸ್ತ್ರಾವೃತಾ ಯಾ…
ಯಾ ಕುಂದೇಂದುತುಷಾರಹಾರಧವಲಾ ಯಾ ಶುಭ್ರವಸ್ತ್ರಾವೃತಾ ಯಾ ವೀಣಾವರದಂಡಮಂಡಿತಕರಾ ಯಾ ಶ್ವೇತಪದ್ಮಾಸನಾ । ಯಾ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಚ್ಯುತಶಂಕರಪ್ರಭೃತಿಭಿರ್ದೇವೈಸ್ಸದಾ ಪೂಜಿತಾ ಸಾ ಮಾಂ ಪಾತು ಸರಸ್ವತೀ ಭಗವತೀ ನಿಶ್ಶೇಷಜಾಡ್ಯಾಪಹಾ ॥
White as jasmine, the moon, snow and pearl; robed in radiant white; her hands graced with the veena and the staff of boons; seated on a white lotus; worshipped always by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the gods — may goddess Saraswati protect me and wash away every trace of dullness.
Four-armed, her limbs glowing like crystal, wearing a rosary; in one hand a white lotus, in another a parrot and a book; radiant as jasmine, moon, conch and crystal, beyond compare — may that goddess of speech, ever gracious, dwell upon my lips.
ಸುರಾಸುರಾಸೇವಿತಪಾದಪಂಕಜಾ ಕರೇ ವಿರಾಜತ್ಕಮನೀಯಪುಸ್ತಕಾ । ವಿರಿಂಚಿಪತ್ನೀ ಕಮಲಾಸನಸ್ಥಿತಾ ಸರಸ್ವತೀ ನೃತ್ಯತು ವಾಚಿ ಮೇ ಸದಾ ॥
surāsurāsevitapādapaṅkajā kare virājatkamanīyapustakā | viriñcipatnī kamalāsanasthitā sarasvatī nṛtyatu vāci me sadā ||
Her lotus feet served by gods and demons alike; a lovely book shining in her hand; consort of Brahma, seated on the lotus — may Saraswati forever dance upon my words.
Saraswati, radiant as the lotus's golden heart; ascetic, lover of the white-lotus seat; full-bosomed, her restless eyes like lotuses; wise one — be gracious and grant your favour.
śuddhasphaṭikarūpāyai sūkṣmarūpe namo namaḥ | śabdabrahmi caturhaste sarvasiddhyai namo namaḥ ||
Salutations to her whose form is pure crystal, to the subtle-formed one; to the Word-Brahman, the four-armed one, salutations to the giver of all attainments.
vedyāyai vedarūpāyai vedāntāyai namo namaḥ | guṇadoṣavivarjinyai guṇadīptyai namo namaḥ ||
Salutations to the knowable one, to the Veda-formed, to Vedanta's crown; to her who is free of flaw and fault, salutations to the one radiant with virtue.
ardhacandrajaṭādhāri candrabimbe namo namaḥ | candrādityajaṭādhāri candrabimbe namo namaḥ ||
Salutations to her who wears the half-moon in her matted locks, to the moon-mirrored one; salutations to her who wears sun and moon in her locks, to the moon-mirrored one.
mahādevyai mahākālyai mahālakṣmyai namo namaḥ | brahmaviṣṇuśivākhyāyai brahmanāryai namo namaḥ ||
Salutations to the great goddess, the great Kali, the great Lakshmi; to her in whom Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are named — salutations to Brahma's queen.
Verse 19 — ಕಮಲಾಕರಪುಷ್ಪಾ ಚ ಕಾಮರೂಪೇ ನಮೋ ನಮಃ । ಕಪಾಲಿ…
Whoever recites this daily, morning and evening, is perfected within six months; neither thief nor tiger need be feared by those who chant it or hear it.
Thus ends the Saraswati Stotra spoken by the sage Agastya — giver of every attainment to mankind, destroyer of every sin.
About Saraswatī Stotram
Saraswatī Stotram is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Agastya, addressed to Saraswati — a Stotra. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: sanskritdocuments.org — sarasvatIstotram (agastyamuniproktam), proofread edition.
Also known as: Ya Kundendu, Yakundendu Tushara, Saraswathi Vandana, Agastya Saraswati Stotram.
The Vedic sage Agastya — seer of Rigvedic hymns and the teacher through whom the Āditya Hṛdayam reaches Śrī Rāma — to whom the colophon ascribes this Saraswati Stotra; the verse text is a stable traditional composition, identical across independent editions, and wholly in the public domain.
Saraswatī Stotram is a Sanskrit stotra (devotional hymn), composed by Agastya, addressed to Saraswati, of 21 verses. On Avabodhak every verse is shown with its English meaning, so you can understand the text line by line as you read.
How do I pronounce Saraswatī Stotram correctly?
Avabodhak presents Saraswatī Stotram in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil alongside IAST Roman transliteration that marks every long vowel (ā, ī, ū) and conjunct consonant. Reading the Devanagari text with the IAST line lets you follow the exact pronunciation syllable by syllable, and the guided practice mode replays it line by line.
What is the word-by-word meaning of Saraswatī Stotram?
Avabodhak pairs each verse of Saraswatī Stotram with its English meaning, and the practice view breaks lines into individual words — so you learn what each word means, not just the overall sense.
Who composed Saraswatī Stotram?
Saraswatī Stotram is attributed to Agastya.
In which scripts can I read Saraswatī Stotram?
Saraswatī Stotram is available in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil on Avabodhak, each with English meaning and IAST transliteration.
Can I chant or practice Saraswatī Stotram online?
Yes — Avabodhak offers a free reading view plus guided practice and word-puzzle modes to help you chant and memorise Saraswatī Stotram.